Vasquez

[SCM33]

Thank god for Christian Vasquez, and not Fatty Leon.

[Jasonbay44]

The hatred you have for a backup catcher is absurd.

[Larry Cook]

Sale pitching next. Time to see if Leon earns his keep.

[SCM33]

The hatred you have for a backup catcher is absurd.

 

At this point, its a joke.......and just a mechanism to keep conversation moving, regardless of the hate I get from it. This place is dead, nothing better to get the conversation moving, than an unpopular opinion, which....in the end, is still my original opinion.

 

A page from Felger and Mazz if you will.....there is a method behind the madness. I dont care if people like me or not, I just want people to post and to be active.

 

I want them to win, I just hope they win more when Vasquez performs.

[SCM33]

Sale pitching next. Time to see if Leon earns his keep.

 

Well, he was able to throw 97 all of a sudden last start with Leon, maybe he locates this time around.

[oldtimer]

Thank god for Christian Vasquez, and not Fatty Leon.

 

The great thing about Vas upturn at the plate is that he will catch the majority of the games and Leon's games played will be limited with his offensive shortcomings to be dealt with maybe once in five games.

[vegasbob]

The great thing about Vas upturn at the plate is that he will catch the majority of the games and Leon's games played will be limited with his offensive shortcomings to be dealt with maybe once in five games.

 

Nice comment towards Vaz who has elevated his game, maybe for good or just for awhile. I like his approach and contact rate. Leon will get the "day off" assignments. maybe for Sale, but if Vaz hit .250 for the season that would be great.

[Larry Cook]

Well, he was able to throw 97 all of a sudden last start with Leon, maybe he locates this time around.

 

The lack of location in April was a sign of rust especially given the lack of innings in March.

 

By this point in the season however, sale should be past that and the real sale should be starting.

 

But instead sale keeps throwing batting practice! Which leads me to ask, is the shoulder fried?

[Bellhorn04]

The lack of location in April was a sign of rust especially given the lack of innings in March.

 

By this point in the season however, sale should be past that and the real sale should be starting.

 

But instead sale keeps throwing batting practice! Which leads me to ask, is the shoulder fried?

 

Did you miss his last start?

[southpaw777]

So good to watch Vaz becoming the AS catcher he's capable of being. IMO, He def deserves an AS appearance. First the TJS then the hand injury slowed him down the last couple years. Now that he's healthy were now starting to see how valuable his bat can be with regular ABs.

[Bellhorn04]

So good to watch Vaz becoming the AS catcher he's capable of being. IMO, He def deserves an AS appearance. First the TJS then the hand injury slowed him down the last couple years. Now that he's healthy were now starting to see how valuable his bat can be with regular ABs.

 

Welcome back to the board!

[jacksonianmarch]

Did you miss his last start?

 

His velocity was down last night.

 

Listen, Sale is what he is. He’s a guy who’s had dominant stuff for his entire career who’s stuff is transitioning. He’s got the ability to locate and the movement to still be good at lower velocities, but because he still has his fastball 2/3 of the time this season, he still has to pitch like he’s got his stuff. Why not, when he’s pumping 95, he’s damn near unhittable. What happens at the lower velocities is you don’t challenge hitters up in the zone like Sale does. Sale is a master at changing eye levels. High fastball 95 followed by sweeping slider down at the ankles. You’ve got to cover the entire zone, top to bottom, in to out. When that fastball is 91, you cannot go up in the zone as much because those pitches are hit hard. This means he needs to locate better because the hitter can almost sit slider and adjust to 91 whereas for 95, you won’t hit that if you aren’t ready for it. If Sale is healthy, he will be fine in his transition. But while he still fights himself and fails to adjust when his fastball isn’t there, he’s going to have clunkers.

 

We went through this with CC. It wasn’t until he drastically altered his approach that he found success. It was painful watching him sell out for 92 when before he could pump 96 whenever he wanted to.

[southpaw777]

Welcome back to the board!

Thanks buddy!!! Hope you and the rest of the gang are doing well😎🤙⚾️

[Bellhorn04]

Thanks buddy!!! Hope you and the rest of the gang are doing well⚾️

 

Yes, we are doing very well, if by that you mean we're as crazy as ever.

[southpaw777]

Yes, we are doing very well, if by that you mean we're as crazy as ever.

 

;)But of course, I wouldn't have it any other way

[moonslav59]

His velocity was down last night.

 

Listen, Sale is what he is. He’s a guy who’s had dominant stuff for his entire career who’s stuff is transitioning. He’s got the ability to locate and the movement to still be good at lower velocities, but because he still has his fastball 2/3 of the time this season, he still has to pitch like he’s got his stuff. Why not, when he’s pumping 95, he’s damn near unhittable. What happens at the lower velocities is you don’t challenge hitters up in the zone like Sale does. Sale is a master at changing eye levels. High fastball 95 followed by sweeping slider down at the ankles. You’ve got to cover the entire zone, top to bottom, in to out. When that fastball is 91, you cannot go up in the zone as much because those pitches are hit hard. This means he needs to locate better because the hitter can almost sit slider and adjust to 91 whereas for 95, you won’t hit that if you aren’t ready for it. If Sale is healthy, he will be fine in his transition. But while he still fights himself and fails to adjust when his fastball isn’t there, he’s going to have clunkers.

 

We went through this with CC. It wasn’t until he drastically altered his approach that he found success. It was painful watching him sell out for 92 when before he could pump 96 whenever he wanted to.

 

Well said.

 

Sale is still hitting mid 90's at times.

[southpaw777]

I think sale could throw to either guy. Leon had the immediate better feel for Sale, but doesnt mean he cant pitch to vaz.

Its not the pitch selection with Sale so much as it is HIS command of his pitches that day and his velocity nowadays. Sale is at an age where transitioning to “pitching” may be in the beginning stages. Lester went through it, And Price just did the last year or two. No more 98 in your back pocket. Sale still gets it up close to that, but on a less consistent basis. He may (is ) have a rough year, but i think he will be fine overall.

[OH FOY]

Chris Sale up to this point is averaging 5.9 innings a start. Up until this year he averaged 7.0 innings a start, to be precise 6.8 innings a start. It affects the BP, that 1 inning.

Sox biggest problem we have just too many 6 inning starters to this point. It caught up to the BP.

If I was Cora I would extend the pitch count from 100 to 120, it will save the BP, and just maybe these guys will get more economical with their pitches. Throw effing strikes.

Pull a Earl Weaver throw them out for the 7th, and go into clubhouse, maybe start smoking cigarettes.

Edited June 29, 2019 by OH FOY!

[notin]

Pull a Earl Weaver throw them out for the 7th, and go into clubhouse, maybe start smoking cigarettes.

 

I think you mean “vaping.” This isn’t the 1950’s...

[dgalehouse]

Halfway through the season Chris Sale is 3 - 7 with a 3.82 ERA . After all the spin and speculation, that is the bottom line . We need and expect much better from him in the second half .

[moonslav59]

Halfway through the season Chris Sale is 3 - 7 with a 3.82 ERA . After all the spin and speculation, that is the bottom line . We need and expect much better from him in the second half .

 

No doubt!

 

Chris Freakin' Sale has moved towards Freakin' Chris Sale!

 

That being said, his run support has been low (3.78) and 11 of his 17 starts has seen 4 or less runs scored in support.

 

The team is 6-11 in his starts, including these loses:

 

1-0 at OAK (6 IP 1 ER)

7-4 v DET (5 IP 2 ER)

5-4 v COL (7 IP 2 ER)

4-3 (6 IP 2 ER)

4-3 (7 IP 0 ER)

 

Sale has 3 games where he allowed 5 or more runs. He has 4 games letting up 4 ERs. That's 7 out of 17, which is way too much.

 

 

 

[Nick]

Chris Freakin' Sale has moved towards Freakin' Chris Sale!

 

 

Good one, Moon. I needed a chuckle after watching Sox and Yankees go at cricket.

 

BTW, I've seen enough of Mike Shawaryn for 2019. It took him something like 30 pitches to get out of one inning when I watched him. Now this.

Edited June 29, 2019 by Nick

[moonslav59]

Chris Freakin' Sale has moved towards Freakin' Chris Sale!

 

 

Good one, Moon. I needed a chuckle after watching Sox and Yankees go at cricket.

 

BTW, I've seen enough of Mike Shawaryn for 2019. It took him something like 30 pitches to get out of one inning when I watched him. Now this.

 

It's guys like him that would not be pitching, if we trade for 1-2 solid pen arms.

 

Yes, many times they only pitch in blow outs, but today's game was an example of how we might have won had he not pitched.

[southpaw777]

My boy should be going to the ASG this year. Shame he isnt. Hes having an amazing year.

[cp176]

I am in awe of what Vazquez has done this year. I never would have guessed nor would I ever say that I saw this coming. good for him.

[bosoxmal]

P;ease! No more of this 1B crap! I want this guy behind thhe plate 4 out of 5 games, and DG in the other games!

[oldtimer]

P;ease! No more of this 1B crap! I want this guy behind thhe plate 4 out of 5 games, and DG in the other games!

 

Despite the claims otherwise, Leon did not seem to raise the level of Sales effort. Vaz would have done as well, except he would have been blamed for Sales subpar effort.

[moonslav59]

P;ease! No more of this 1B crap! I want this guy behind thhe plate 4 out of 5 games, and DG in the other games!

 

Several catchers go 4 of 5 games or 7 of 10. I'm not sure Vaz can do it, but I don't want him tiring out and slumping at bat.

Edited July 15, 2019 by moonslav59

[Kimmi]

Despite the claims otherwise, Leon did not seem to raise the level of Sales effort. Vaz would have done as well, except he would have been blamed for Sales subpar effort.

 

Sometimes, it doesn't matter who is behind the plate. If the pitcher doesn't have it, he doesn't have it.

 

However, it is really hard to dispute the fact that Sale typically pitches better with Leon than he does with Vaz.